Dream Theater announces 16th Studio Album - Parasomnia

[Northern Lion]

My first impressions of Parasomnia were WAYYY off. Going forward on any album I will wait until I can fully sit and digest it before spewing. It has been an interesting rollercoaster posting all my thoughts getting to this. What changed? Letting my expectations dictate and resist letting the songs come at me with an open mind based on what I wanted it to be which is INSANE. When this albums clicks it's brilliant.

You are highlighting one of the greatest qualities of DT music, discovery over time. I'm glad to see you beginning to experience that with this new music we have by the band. Your discovery and new found excitement makes me even more excited than I already am.

An example for me is the song This is the Life. For years I didn't like that song, but then suddenly out of nowhere I was listening to it and realized how beautiful it was as well as its expert craftsmanship. I don't know what was different that time but I've loved the song ever since.

[Northern Lion]

This is the first useful review I've read lol. I'm actually now even more hyped lol

https://amnplify.com.au/portfolio-items/dream-theater-parasomnia-album-review-30th-january-2025/

That was a really great review!

[MirrorMask]

This is the first useful review I've read lol. I'm actually now even more hyped lol

https://amnplify.com.au/portfolio-items/dream-theater-parasomnia-album-review-30th-january-2025/

Yeah this is fantastic, you can tell the guy is a fan and knows what he's talking about but he's not in ass-kissing mode.

I always appreciate how he's on point with the descriptions of the songs, sometimes reviewers get carried away in a word salad that doesn't really say anything. "The song is a relentless assault on the psychochromatic scales that lets disparaging emotions run deep as the song marches on in a solild but melodic onslaught of refined metallurgic ahestetics". Bro you're reviewing a metal album, you don't need to out-Shakespeare Shakespeare.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

This is the first useful review I've read lol. I'm actually now even more hyped lol

https://amnplify.com.au/portfolio-items/dream-theater-parasomnia-album-review-30th-january-2025/

Every once in a while, I read something where I go, "Did this person write this for me personally?" This was one of those times! Incredibly useful and this person seems to have a very similar view of the band to me.

[Pettor]

You are highlighting one of the greatest qualities of DT music, discovery over time. I'm glad to see you beginning to experience that with this new music we have by the band. Your discovery and new found excitement makes me even more excited than I already am.

An example for me is the song This is the Life. For years I didn't like that song, but then suddenly out of nowhere I was listening to it and realized how beautiful it was as well as its expert craftsmanship. I don't know what was different that time but I've loved the song ever since.

I think it's easy to have expectations about how an album should sound, only for it to turn out completely different. It usually takes time to let the music sink in and get comfortable to be open to whatever it has to offer. DT can vary their sound quite a lot. Specially now with MP back I guess everyone picks their favorite album during that era and just hope the new one will sound like that. Parasomnia will most likely take a while to digest and see if it stands the test of time or not.

SDOIT is one of my all-time favorite albums, but it took a long time for me to fully appreciate it. Not sure but I think it took 5 years or something until it clicked.

[MinistroRaven]

The returning drumming legend with prog metal titans Dream Theater tells Rock Candy Magazine about his time away from the band and why it feels right to be back in the fold.

 

"It was a longing to come home, to be with family. The two Johns [Petrucci and Myung] and I started together when we were teenagers, and now here we are creeping up on 60. It goes way deeper than coming back to a band."

 

The release of the band's sixteenth studio album, 'Parasomnia', finds the friends out on the road and taking their peerless brand of razor-sharp melodic metal to their expectant fans. The band had much success with previous drummer Mike Mangini behind the kit, but Mike Portnoy's reappearance has scratched an itch for many die-hard followers. Mike is very aware of the fans and feels the weight of trying to live up to expectations.

 

"We just have to write for ourselves and make ourselves happy. Dream Theater fans are so rabid, and so opinionated, and so passionate that there's no way we can please everybody... I really care about our fans. I've spent my whole career trying to model everything I do for them because I relate to them as much as anybody. The hardest thing for me is to keep an eye on that, but also look away from it and please ourselves first and foremost. There's a balance somewhere, though, and hopefully we're striking it."

 

You can read our exclusive Mike Portnoy interview, as well as the interviews with all the members of Dream Theater in issue 48 of Rock Candy Magazine, together with in-depth stories and interviews with Ian Gillan, Steve Vai, Pantera and Anthrax's Charlie Benante,Teaze, TKO and more. For more details visit: www.rockcandymag.com
 
ABOUT ROCK CANDY MAG
Rock Candy Mag is a 100-page, full-colour bi-monthly rock mag, created in the UK. It covers the sights, sounds and smells from the greatest era in hard rock music, the '70s and '80s. The brainchild of: respected UK rock journalists Derek Oliver, Howard Johnson and Malcolm Dome – all frontline writers for the legendary Kerrang! magazine in the golden era.
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[rab7]

This is the first useful review I've read lol. I'm actually now even more hyped lol

https://amnplify.com.au/portfolio-items/dream-theater-parasomnia-album-review-30th-january-2025/

I'm somehow even more hyped than I already was.

One thing though: This and several other reivews have mentioned the "music box" motif, which is present in *both* Night Terror and A Broken Man. Having listened to both extensively, I actually can't recognize anything that occurs in both those songs. Unless my ears are betraying me. Can Raven or Glasser, or anyone who's heard this "music box" motif confirm?

[Northern Lion]

I'm somehow even more hyped than I already was.

One thing though: This and several other reivews have mentioned the "music box" motif, which is present in *both* Night Terror and A Broken Man. Having listened to both extensively, I actually can't recognize anything that occurs in both those songs. Unless my ears are betraying me. Can Raven or Glasser, or anyone who's heard this "music box" motif confirm?

I believe I've figured it out.

Listen to the opening riff of Night Terror and then listen to the first part of the chorus of A Broken Man. They aren't 1 to 1 the same, but very similar. Listen to the melody and chord progression.

[MinistroRaven]

I'm somehow even more hyped than I already was.

One thing though: This and several other reivews have mentioned the "music box" motif, which is present in *both* Night Terror and A Broken Man. Having listened to both extensively, I actually can't recognize anything that occurs in both those songs. Unless my ears are betraying me. Can Raven or Glasser, or anyone who's heard this "music box" motif confirm?

The similarities are very subtle, it's not like they are 100% the same.

[rab7]

I believe I've figured it out.

Listen to the opening riff of Night Terror and then listen to the first part of the chorus of A Broken Man. They aren't 1 to 1 the same, but very similar. Listen to the melody and chord progression.

Ok I can see it. Like the piano is sort of doing a variation of it in a different key. Thnaks!

[Northern Lion]

Ok I can see it. Like the piano is sort of doing a variation of it in a different key. Thnaks!

You're welcome! But thanks for asking because I probably wouldn't have looked it up otherwise. I think I just glossed over it reading the review. I like nuggets like this. It's part of what makes DT music fun for me.

[Madman Shepherd]

Being unimpressed with the album cover, I do have to say I'm excited to see more Hugh Syme artwork in the booklet. I've never got the criticism of him. I love his juxtaposition of images, the rich textures, etc. I don't mind that they're largely stock images. I hope it's not more AI though.

Sidenote: Yeah the watermarks were a big cringey mistake.

[Progmaniac1988]

I'm glad you all enjoyed the review lol yeah I agree with you all that said this felt it was written by a fan. Felt like it was written by someone who really understands the band. Which I feel is missing from many reviews.

Returning themes musically and lyrically is something I feel was really strong from the albums MP were on. I mean the later albums had moments. Especially TA, but the emphasis was never as thought out imo.

The way the reviewer had described this album is everything I personally am hoping for. So yeah, expectations are high now. That may be good, that may be bad lol

[Glasser]

I'm glad you all enjoyed the review lol yeah I agree with you all that said this felt it was written by a fan. Felt like it was written by someone who really understands the band. Which I feel is missing from many reviews.

Returning themes musically and lyrically is something I feel was really strong from the albums MP were on. I mean the later albums had moments. Especially TA, but the emphasis was never as thought out imo.

The way the reviewer had described this album is everything I personally am hoping for. So yeah, expectations are high now. That may be good, that may be bad lol

Expectations is what kept me flip flopping my thoughts. When I just listened without them it clicked for me. One week and all of this will be very interesting to read. Honestly though, Wolfking recently said that AVFTTOTW recently fully sunk in completely for him. Music of DT's caliber needs time. I'm just fully starting to enjoy DoT for example. Images and Words made such a deep imprint on me that I'm finally accepting that they have evolved so much since then and I stopped using it as a frame of reference for what I expect and it's opened me up a lot to listen and appreciate albums I originally gave up on.

[TAC]

Images and Words made such a deep imprint on me that I'm finally accepting that they have evolved so much since then and I stopped using it as a frame of reference for what I expect and it's opened me up a lot to listen and appreciate albums I originally gave up on.

Nice. I completely get that.

[Revenge319]

Images and Words made such a deep imprint on me that I'm finally accepting that they have evolved so much since then and I stopped using it as a frame of reference for what I expect and it's opened me up a lot to listen and appreciate albums I originally gave up on.

I think in a way this explains for me why I love the majority of Dream Theater's albums and there are very few songs that I don't care for.

I started diving into Dream Theater's discography in 2017 after only knowing around 10 songs over the past year. On top of having 13 albums and an EP to listen to in a row, the order I chose to listen to the albums was pretty much random, so I never really had any sort of expectations or reference point beyond "I hope the rest of this album is as good as the song(s) I already know from it". The only disappointing album at the time was Falling Into Infinity, but that one grew on me over time. 

Going into Distance Over Time, I saw Dream Theater as a prog metal band who did whatever they felt like doing, so even if I didn't become obsessed with DOT for a little while, I can't imagine I'd have been disappointed in any way. AVFTTOTW took time to grow on me, but first impressions were still positive. As for Parasomnia's singles, I've only listened to Night Terror, but I expect that this album will be pretty good much like that song itself. The way I see it, Dream Theater consistently makes good music and they don't really have to take a specific approach to ensure I'll enjoy what they do.

[Glasser]

I think in a way this explains for me why I love the majority of Dream Theater's albums and there are very few songs that I don't care for.

I started diving into Dream Theater's discography in 2017 after only knowing around 10 songs over the past year. On top of having 13 albums and an EP to listen to in a row, the order I chose to listen to the albums was pretty much random, so I never really had any sort of expectations or reference point beyond "I hope the rest of this album is as good as the song(s) I already know from it". The only disappointing album at the time was Falling Into Infinity, but that one grew on me over time.

Going into Distance Over Time, I saw Dream Theater as a prog metal band who did whatever they felt like doing, so even if I didn't become obsessed with DOT for a little while, I can't imagine I'd have been disappointed in any way. AVFTTOTW took time to grow on me, but first impressions were still positive. As for Parasomnia's singles, I've only listened to Night Terror, but I expect that this album will be pretty good much like that song itself. The way I see it, Dream Theater consistently makes good music and they don't really have to take a specific approach to ensure I'll enjoy what they do.

Nice, thanks for sharing that. I wish I had your vantage point sometimes. To have a pile of their CDs to listen to for the first time with zero preconceived notions must be overwhelming, in a fun way. There are some of us here like myself who were there since WDADU came out and that's all we knew until the next was released. It really changes how you view it all but I'm over that now. I was a fan at 19 and I'm 55 in a few months, it's wild man.

[Revenge319]

Nice, I wish I had your vantage point sometimes. To have a pile of their CDs to listen to for the first time with zero preconceived notions must be overwhelming, in a fun way. There are some of us here like myself who were there since WDADU came out and that's all we knew until the next was released. It really changes how you view it all but I'm over that now. I was a fan at 19 and I'm 55 in a few months, it's wild man.

Yeah, I didn't bring it up in my previous message but I do wonder if my perspective would've been significantly different if I had grew up in the 90s, listening to any of their first three albums and becoming a fan that way.

[Glasser]

Yeah, I didn't bring it up in my previous message but I do wonder if my perspective would've been significantly different if I had grew up in the 90s, listening to any of their first three albums and becoming a fan that way.

I would guess it would, how could it not honestly. Images and Words was such a game changer and inspired a lot of bands to want to create their own version of it. A few quick examples are Ivory Tower, Empty Tremor, Arkhe, Hydrotoxin, Madsword, Scenario, to name a few. It became a benchmark, and honestly when Awake came out I was literally pissed, thinking they were  trying to be a proggy Skid Row or something because Labrie had that grit in his voice but that passed and I loved Awake pretty quickly. So there's the impact I&W had on me immediately.

[emtee]

Absolutely wonderful interview/conversation with MP and JP and a very classy, respectful interviewer.

https://youtu.be/3CQmYNyBl-4?si=W_CBu4v7B9yzHDi7

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Changing feelings about songs is normal over time. When I think about how something measures up - rankings I guess - a big thing for me is replay value. Do I still want to listen to this after 5 spins or is it already done?

[wolfking]

Expectations is what kept me flip flopping my thoughts. When I just listened without them it clicked for me. One week and all of this will be very interesting to read. Honestly though, Wolfking recently said that AVFTTOTW recently fully sunk in completely for him. Music of DT's caliber needs time. I'm just fully starting to enjoy DoT for example. Images and Words made such a deep imprint on me that I'm finally accepting that they have evolved so much since then and I stopped using it as a frame of reference for what I expect and it's opened me up a lot to listen and appreciate albums I originally gave up on.

Great perspective mate.  Not only is A View still growing on me, I actually hated it when it was released, like despised it and now it keeps climbing my rankings, so that's even more interesting and also gives me so much perspective and a different view on how to approach things and how to approach Parasomnia. 

Using I&W as a reference point is going to cause anything to fail so it's a good process removing all those prejudgments and expecting something to live up to the same as something else.  Nine times out of ten, it just never happens.

[rab7]

When I think about how something measures up - rankings I guess - a big thing for me is replay value. Do I still want to listen to this after 5 spins or is it already done?

I came to this realization recently. I frame it as, "Do I ever listen to this album on purpose? Or do I only listen to it when I'm doing a full discography run?"

[wolfking]

For me it's more about just getting the natural urge to want to play an album and how often I want to play it.  Again with A View, I just get the vibe and the urge to spin it more and more often.  To me, that's what makes an album go up in the rankings for me, regardless of anything else.

[Progmaniac1988]

Expectations is what kept me flip flopping my thoughts. When I just listened without them it clicked for me. One week and all of this will be very interesting to read. Honestly though, Wolfking recently said that AVFTTOTW recently fully sunk in completely for him. Music of DT's caliber needs time. I'm just fully starting to enjoy DoT for example. Images and Words made such a deep imprint on me that I'm finally accepting that they have evolved so much since then and I stopped using it as a frame of reference for what I expect and it's opened me up a lot to listen and appreciate albums I originally gave up on.

Yeah I feel you, all DT's albums eventually click with me. Some faster than others. TA even clicked eventually. Not an album I listen to very often but I do appreciate it. Live it was incredible too. I'd say the live performance is what made me really start enjoying it.

The Parasomnia singles I already love. I'm just trying not to over listen to them before the rest of the album. Looks like the remaining songs will be some of the best tho!

[Glasser]

Great perspective mate.  Not only is A View still growing on me, I actually hated it when it was released, like despised it and now it keeps climbing my rankings, so that's even more interesting and also gives me so much perspective and a different view on how to approach things and how to approach Parasomnia. 

Using I&W as a reference point is going to cause anything to fail so it's a good process removing all those prejudgments and expecting something to live up to the same as something else.  Nine times out of ten, it just never happens.

It took long enough but I'm there. I&W stands alone. They were essentially kids when they wrote that album. It's like expecting Metallica to go back to writing Kill 'em All.

[Glasser]

Yeah I feel you, all DT's albums eventually click with me. Some faster than others. TA even clicked eventually. Not an album I listen to very often but I do appreciate it. Live it was incredible too. I'd say the live performance is what made me really start enjoying it.

The Parasomnia singles I already love. I'm just trying not to over listen to them before the rest of the album. Looks like the remaining songs will be some of the best tho!

I revisit TA from time to time. I do like it, it has some great songs. The singles get even better surrounded by the rest of the album. It's a start to finish experience.

[wolfking]

It took long enough but I'm there. I&W stands alone. They were essentially kids when they wrote that album. It's like expecting Metallica to go back to writing Kill 'em All.

Great analogy. 

I think in a lot of ways, DT albums are so diverse, creative and have so much depth that while we have favourites, each of them stand alone in their own way.  Some more than others and while the band has streamlined their output more than the early days in terms of sound, each still has their own identity.

[Progmaniac1988]

I revisit TA from time to time. I do like it, it has some great songs. The singles get even better surrounded by the rest of the album. It's a start to finish experience.

Yeah, I'd have to agree. Best listened to from start to finish. Also kind of its downfall. It's LONG, so being able to put the time into giving it a full listen is very difficult, at least for me.


Edit - I feel albums like SFAM is about the sweet spot for a full listen album. It's long but I can manage listening to a 70ish min album from start to finish. Longer than 80 mins is when I usually start losing my attention. Unless it's a REALLY exceptional album. Last one I can think of is similitude of a dream.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

It took long enough but I'm there. I&W stands alone. They were essentially kids when they wrote that album. It's like expecting Metallica to go back to writing Kill 'em All.

It certainly does. Greatest album of all time and for 92 it was very progressive (as was Change of Seasons).

As you were saying, the band's sound has changed quite a bit since then.  Even if you take an album like ADTOE  (top 2 for me) which clearly used I&W for a blueprint in some songs - it's a different thing.

[Glasser]

It certainly does. Greatest album of all time and for 92 it was very progressive (as was Change of Seasons).

As you were saying, the band's sound has changed quite a bit since then.  Even if you take an album like ADTOE  (top 2 for me) which clearly used I&W for a blueprint in some songs - it's a different thing.

Agreed! I wish they released CoS on I&W as they originally planned. The label didn't want it to be a double album.

[wolfking]

I think it was more the fact that releasing that much greatness at once on the same album would cause the world to simply implode in on itself.  Nothing could handle that epicness.

[Glasser]

I think it was more the fact that releasing that much greatness at once on the same album would cause the world to simply implode in on itself.  Nothing could handle that epicness.

I agree with that a million percent. Every other band on the planet would have called it quits.

[TheBarstoolWarrior]

Agreed! I wish they released CoS on I&W as they originally planned. The label didn't want it to be a double album.

Yeah, that would have been a whopper for people to digest but when I listen to that song I hear the same band that I did on I&W - which is not the case just a few years later on Awake. When they finally release ACOS, the production was different and James' style changed slightly. I'm not complaining at all but I do wonder what it would have been like to hear them put it with I&W.

Very special music to me. In the early 2000s I'd heard of DT through word of mouth,and  I saw a guy on the street with a SFAM t-shirt. I asked someone on the internet what I should start with and they said Take the Time - the rest is history. Now I am here with you all ranting about DT 

[BeatriceNB]

Yeah, that would have been a whopper for people to digest but when I listen to that song I hear the same band that I did on I&W - which is not the case just a few years later on Awake. When they finally release ACOS, the production was different and James' style changed slightly. I'm not complaining at all but I do wonder what it would have been like to hear them put it with I&W.

Very special music to me. In the early 2000s I'd heard of DT through word of mouth,and  I saw a guy on the street with a SFAM t-shirt. I asked someone on the internet what I should start with and they said Take the Time - the rest is history. Now I am here with you all ranting about DT 

I dream of hearing the alternative reality version of I&W with Don't Look Past Me, To Live Forever and ACOS on it. Those songs with I&W's production would be heavenly